The country's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) came in at 51.3 this month, decelerating from 51.6 in December, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below reflects contraction.

The manufacturing PMI has stayed above the boom-bust line for 18 straight months.

Despite the slowdown, the index was the same with that of a year ago, suggesting the sector remained steady, NBS senior statistician Zhao Qinghe said.

Sub-indices for production and new orders went down slightly to 53.5 and 52.6, respectively, while sub-indices on raw material stock, employees and suppliers' delivery time were still lower than 50.